All newspapers and TV channels are guilty, as are plenty of supposedly “independent” websites.
Rather than keep fighting a losing battle, why not take matters into your own hands?
At the time, it was called RDF Site Summary.
How Does RSS Work?
RSS feeds use a standardized XML-formatted plain text output.
From a user perspective, using RSS feeds is easy.
Most websites offer a clickable RSS link that will give you the feed’s web address.
If you’re able to’t find an RSS link, try heading tosite.com/feedorsite.com/rss.
Luckily, there’s a more practical way:make your own custom RSS feed.
Before you begin, you’ll need a Zapier account.
If you don’t have one, go and make one.
you’re able to use a maximum of 10.
When you’re looking at the home screen, clickMake a Zapin the top right-hand corner.
On the following screen, use the search box to find theRSS by Zapierapp.
opt for app, then clickShow less common options > New Items in Multiple Feeds > Save + Continue.
Choosing this setting allows you to monitor multiple feeds.
Now you oughta add the RSS feeds you collected earlier.
Under Feeds URLs, paste each one into a separate box.
Use the+icon to add more lines.
ClickContinue > Fetch and Continuewhen you’re ready.
Filter Your Feeds
Once the feeds are up and running, you better filter the content.
For example, perhaps you’re only interested inMakeUseOf articles about Windowsor NASA articles about Venus.
Note:The following steps require a paid Zapier subscription.
In the panel on the left-hand side of the screen, you will see a+icon.
Click it, highlightChoose Appand use the search box to findFilter by Zapier.
go for the app and clickSave + Continue.
The next screen is where you set up your specific filters.
There are three boxes for you to populate.
The first allows you to choose a part of the RSS feed to filter (e.g.
title, description, link, etc.
ClickContinue > Test Filterto complete the process.
If the feed is new, there won’t be any articles to filter yet.
In the left-hand panel of Zapier, locate theActionsection.
Set the app asRSS by Zapier, then chooseCreate Item in Feedon the next screen.
HitContinueand fill in the necessary fields to customize your RSS feed.
you’re able to give the feed a URL and name.
Now scroll down and find sections markedItem Title,Source URL, andContent.
For Item Title click+ > New items in multiple feeds > Title.
For Source URL go to+ > New items in multiple feeds > Link.
And for Content select+ > New items in multiple feeds > Description.
Scroll down and go toContinue > Create and Continueto complete the setup process.
Lastly, Zapier will prompt you to give your new Zap a name and turn it on.
), there are some alternatives you might use.
2.Fetch RSS
Fetch RSS offers a different take on the idea of custom RSS feeds.
Just paste the URL of the site you want to convert into the app and hitContinue.
Note:The free version of the app restricts you to five feeds.
you better pay $4.95 per month if you want more.
